Thailand and US launch annual Cobra Gold military exercise

Updated
4:48 pm CST, Thursday, February 14, 2019

US Marine soldiers hold a tarantula during a jungle survival training with Thai soldiers in the joint 'Cobra Gold' military exercise in Chantaburi province on February 14, 2019. - The US and Thailand hold on February 14, the annual joint 'Cobra Gold', the largest US-led military exercises in Asia involving gruelling drills in the Thai jungle, war games, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief exercise. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP)LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP/Getty Images less

US Marine soldiers hold a tarantula during a jungle survival training with Thai soldiers in the joint 'Cobra Gold' military exercise in Chantaburi province on February 14, 2019. - The US and Thailand hold on ... more

Photo: LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA, AFP/Getty Images

Photo: LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA, AFP/Getty Images

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US Marine soldiers hold a tarantula during a jungle survival training with Thai soldiers in the joint 'Cobra Gold' military exercise in Chantaburi province on February 14, 2019. - The US and Thailand hold on February 14, the annual joint 'Cobra Gold', the largest US-led military exercises in Asia involving gruelling drills in the Thai jungle, war games, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief exercise. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP)LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP/Getty Images less

US Marine soldiers hold a tarantula during a jungle survival training with Thai soldiers in the joint 'Cobra Gold' military exercise in Chantaburi province on February 14, 2019. - The US and Thailand hold on ... more

Photo: LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA, AFP/Getty Images

Thailand and US launch annual Cobra Gold military exercise

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BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand and the United States on Tuesday hosted the opening ceremony for the annual Cobra Gold military exercise, the biggest activity of its type in the Asia-Pacific region with 29 nations taking part as participants or observers.

Seven nations in addition to Thailand and the United States are active participants: Singapore, Japan, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia and South Korea. About 4,500 U.S. personnel, on land and sea, are taking part.

The acting head of the U.S. diplomatic mission in Thailand, Peter Haymond, said at the ceremony in the northern Thai province of Phitsanulok that the aim of the exercise, first held in 1982, is to strengthen cooperation and inter-operability.

There are three major components of the exercise, which ends Feb. 22: military field training, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief training. Its goals include "enhancing maritime security, preventing and mitigating emerging disease threats, and responding to large-scale natural disasters," a U.S. statement said.

The ceremony was attended by Thai Chief of Defense Forces Gen. Pornpipat Benyasri and the commander of the U.S. Army First Corps, Lt. Gen. Gary J. Volesky, representing the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.

"We have witnessed that this Thai-American initiative has become a significant milestone of military collaboration that has expanded to the regional level," a statement issued by the exercise quoted Pornpipat as saying.

"I believe that not only has Cobra Gold served as a platform for understanding and working together in the region, but has now become beneficial for our other strategic partners," he said.